Photo courtesy of Charles Zuckermann
The competitive juices were flowing, as were the delicious, fatty drippings from each burger entered in the first annual ‘Yaletown’s Best Burger Contest’, one of the prime events of the friendly Vancouver neighborhood’s Canada Day Street Party.
Five well-known foodies - Richard Wolak, Cassandra Anderton, Raul Pacheco-Vega, John Chow, and myself – were the privileged judges who sampled, rated, and salivated over the burgers from seven participating Yaletown restaurants.
Check out the lineup:
1. BBQues at 1043 Mainland Street
TDF (To Die For) Factor: Extremely light, crispy bun
Other notes: Classic burger
2. Hub Restaurant & Lounge at 1165 Mainland Street
TDF Factor: Crispy blackening of the patty’s exterior
Other notes: Unidentifiable delicious secret sauce
3. Section 3 at 1039 Mainland Street
TDF Factor: Extra cheese & bacon
Other notes: Lathered with a ‘Triple-O-like sauce’
4. Hamilton Street Grill at 1009 Hamilton Street
TDF Factor: A mixture of white stilton & butter inside patty then topped with white cheddar
Other notes: Double-patty action – marinated portobello mushroom & rosemary-infused beef
5. Society at 1257 Hamilton Street
TDF Factor: Secret spice in patty – what was it!? …my fav meat of the bunch.
Other notes: Sauteed onions & fried egg
6. Earls at 1095 Mainland Street
TDF Factor: Sweet & spicy bbq sauce
Other notes: Earls ventured out on a limb and created seven unique sandwiches, one for each judge. Mine was extremely original and simple with coleslaw and their signature bbq sauce.
Here is another from Earls: a high-quality version of McDonald’s McGriddle. LOVED IT!
TDF Factor: Maple syrup-coated waffle, fried egg, & beef patty
7. Glowbal at 1079 Mainland Street
TD4 Factor: A wealth of grainy mustard/mayo
Other notes: Red chile flakes in patty added a slight kick
Although the race was tight, Hamilton Street Grill won gold with their rosemary-infused, butter & white Stilton burger, which I’d choose over a steak next time I dine at Chef Neil Wyles celebrated Yaletown restaurant.
Event organizer Ian Reid, Hamilton Street Grill's triumphant chef James Thomson, & Glowbal's Kyle Johnstone
Other notes: I would not only die for HSG’s winning burger, I would crack a rib for one.
You should follow me on twitter @erin_ireland and check my site erin-ireland.com.
Ciao for now.
49th Parallel's Chocolate Sour Cherry Torte
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Congrats to Hamilton Street Grill! That burger is off the hinges!
Society’s burger looks great too!
How many of these bad boys are on their regular menus? My regular weekly burger and champagne trip may have to move around for the next little while as I follow in your footsteps
I think Chef James will have to put that burger on special this week, when he gets back on Tuesday…….He needs Monday off because he is exhausted from all of the victory laps of Yaletown
See you soon,
Neil Wyles
HSG
These photos are awesome. Defintely want to test out the Hamilton Street Burger!